Business group likes Pritzker, Zients for cabinet posts

By Byron Tau

01/31/13 02:24 PM EST

A group representing the nation's CEOs gave their stamp of approval to fellow business executives Penny Pritzker and Jeff Zients for cabinet-level positions in President Obama's second-term administration.

"Penny Pritzker might be at Commerce Department. She'd be a solid business voice that's there," said Business Roundtable CEO John Engler at a Thursday briefing. "Jeff Zients is around and he's got strong business credentials, and has been very positive to work with"

Pritzker — a top bundler for Obama's campaign and CEO of PSP Capital Partners and Pritzker Realty Group — was rumored as a possible choice for Commerce Secretary this week. Zients — currently serving as the OMB acting director — has also been floated as a possible United States Trade Representative. Prior to his stint in government, Zients founded and ran the investment firm Portfolio Logic LLC.

"I think Jeff Zients is very capable. So if the president said would you go do that and he said yes, I think we'd find him very good to work with," said Engler. "Just like I think we'd find Penny Pritzker at Commerce"

Engler also said that the business community would have seen White House economic adviser Mike Froman as a very good choice for the trade representation.

"He's been a very able assistant to the president. He would have been terrific over there. We would have thought, oh, that's very good," Engler said.

The Commerce Secretary job has gone unfilled since John Bryson resigned the position in June, citing medical issues. United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk has also announced his intention to step down from his post soon.